Animal-trap.



C. YQST. ANIMAL TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.15, 1913.

Patented Feb. l3, 1914.

CASPER YC TENTOFFCE- f e r .avi nn, ILLINoIs.

er* fr initer.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 3, 1914.

Application led February 15, 1913. l Serial No. 748,631.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CASPER Yosr, a citizen of the United States,residing at Danville, in the county of Vermilion and State of Illinois,have invented new and useful Iniprovements in Animal-Traps, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates'to animal traps, and it has for its object toproduce a self-setting or ever-set trap of simple and improvedconstruction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple and improvedtrap construction which is applicable to traps of alll sizes, shapes anddimensions for the purpose of entrapping pest animals of allxkinds.

A further object of the invention is to ovide a construction, theprinciple of 1 nich is equally applicable to a trap in whichthereceptacle is composed of a box, barrel or the like, or one in whichthe receptacle is formed by a pit or excavation in the ground.

A further object of the invention is to produce a trap consistingessentially of a cover member, a bait pan connected tl1erewith and trapdoors also associated therewith in suitable relation with the otherparts.v l 1 A further object of the invention is to produce a trap ofextremely simple and efficient construction which' while always set and.ready for the admission of the victim With these and other ends inviewwhich Will'readily appear asthe nature of the inventionfis betterunderstood, the same consists in the improved construction and novelVAarrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fullydescribed and particularly pointed out in the claim.

l 1 In the accompanying drawing has been illustrateda simple andpreferred form of the invention it beinOr however understood' 3 b 7 withthe invention. `Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken onthe line 2 -21in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a hor1zontal see-' Correspondingparts in the several figures I are denoted by like characters yofreference.

The main receptacle 10 may consist of a box or'barrel or it may, whenthe trap is used in the open consist of an excavation .in the groundwhich may be lined or protected in any desired manner. A` lid l1 isprovided, said lid having an annular depending flange 12 which maysurround the receptacle 10. The lid has a central inlet aperture 13equipped with a downwardly extending funnel 14. Said lid may also beprovided with numerous .smallopenings 15 for the, purpose of diffusingthe scent ofthe bait,

ble tothe victims, while the scent or odor of the bait will be diffusednot only through the apertures 13 of the lid, but also through thevspace between the funnels 1 9 and 14. The bait pan is .supported in themann-er described in order that it may be readily removed with the lidfrom the main. recepitacle 10, and afterward conveniently de# tached forcleansing and for the placing of baittherein. Swinging yokes 2() aresupvas hereafter set forth. A bait pan or recepported beneath the baitpan on diametrically opposite sides ofthe funnel, said yokes carryingrollers 21 consisting preferablyv of bright metallicv cylinders thatrevolve freely on their respective yokes and which, by gravity, arenormally supported beneath the end of the funnel'19 that projectsthrough the opening 18 in'contact with each other,

so that said funnel opening will in a Ineas- 'ure be obstructed thereby:

The parts are so proportioned that when the yokes 20 hang in a verticalposition toV whichl they naturally gravitate, the cylinders 21- willbarely contact with eachother, as seen in Fig. 1, Thus, although theview of parts lying below the cylinders 21is obs tructed, the saidcylinders will swinghamrt,

When subjected to the slightest possible pressure, leaving nopossibility of forming any support for the victim, as would be the caseif the cylinders were spring-actuated in the direction of each other.

When the trap is designed for out-door use,.it may be protected by ahood or cover 22 having legs 23, whereby it may' be sup ported on 'thelid 11 suiiciently elevated above 'the latter to create no suspicion inthe animals that it -is desired to catch.

n the operation of the trap, bait of'any description is placed in thepan 16 Where it is retained between thewalls of the pan and the funnel19, The bait pan is supported detachably on the hooks 17 in such amanner that the funnel 14 connected with the lid will project Within theupper end of the funnel 19 of the bait pant The odors of the bait willarise through the apertures 15 and will stimulate the appetite of thevic-l tims which attracted thereby. Will endeavor to obtain access tothe bait through the funnel 14. The bright cylinders 21, When l seen bythe animals through the openings of the funnel, will arouse thecuriosity/.oil the victims and induce them to enter through the topfunnel 14, the bottom funnel 19 being provided to prevent direct accessto the bait. The animal alighting on 'the rollers 2 Wiil cause thelatter to swing aside, thereby precipitating the animal into thereceptacle, escape from which wili be rendered practically impossible bythe rollers which by gravity 4Will obstruct the only opening.

It is desired to be understood that no limitation is intendedto bemadewith respect to the material employed in the manufacture of thetrap, the shape or the dimensions of the latter or the preciseconstruction of the parts of the device, except as implied in 'theappended, claim.

Having thus described the invention, what is' claimed as new, is l In adevice of the class described, the combination with a receptacle, of alid having an inlet provided with a downwardly ex tending funnel, a baitpan supported beneath the lid and havin a funnel Which surrounds thelower port1on of the funnel depending from the lid and which coperateswith the outer Wall of the bait pan to forni a bait receiving annularspace, yokes pivoted on the underside of the baitpan, and brightmetallic cylindersvjournaled on the yokes, the parts being soproportioned that the cylinders will contact with each other When theyokes gravitate to an approximately vertical position.

'In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence or two Witnesses.

CASPER YGST. Nitnessesz v Lew. P. STONE, G. Y. iTosTEn.

